If you’ve ever wanted a critique from an established editor or literary agent, then here is your chance. You can bid on hundreds of auctions for a good cause.

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The Six Sentence Sunday Contest was cancelled. I got a tweet from the founders who said, “the contest is against the whole intent/purpose of #sixsunday.” I meant to draw more attention toward the event, but I don’t want to piss anyone off, so it’s off. Feel free to post your six sentences anyway. It’s still fun with or without a prize. 

Here is my six sentence entry from a deleted section of my current YA Paranormal Project:

One corner of his lip curled. “Is that what you think?”

I crossed my arms. “That’s what I know.”

He reached out, cupped my face, and furiously pressed his lips against mine. His hands slinked onto my neck and slowly down my back until they rested firmly above the top of my jeans. Fingers pressed into my spine with a desperation that surprised me, and I let out a gasp. He pulled back for a second, and stared into my eyes as if he searched for my approval.

Social media can be an aspiring authors best friend. If you know how to use it – it can be helpful in attracting literary agents, publishers, and readers to your work. But, with all the available outlets out there, it’s hard to know where to concentrate. In this course, we’re going to get down and dirty with what’s working, how much time to invest, what to do, and especially, what not to do. This course is designed for aspiring authors as well as published authors looking to connect with a larger audience.

Here’s a short breakdown of what you can expect to learn during our 4 sessions:

Twitter:

•             How to build your following

•             What to tweet and how often

•             What to avoid

•             What to write in your profile

•             Tools/Tricks

Facebook:

•             How to build a fan page

•             What to write

•             What to avoid

•             The “Like” button

•             Ways to attract traffic

Goodreads

•             How to build a following

•             Creating a winning profile

•             Free/Available Tools for Authors

•             Contests & Groups

•             Paid Advertizing – Does it work?

Personal Blogs/Websites

•             What to blog

•             What NOT to blog

•             Links, Buttons, & more

•             “About” section

•             How to attract traffic

COST: $25.00

For more information including registration, go HERE

I’m so excited to announce that this blog has been nominated for a Goodreads Independent Blogger Award in the Publishing Industry category. 46 blogs are in the running and the competition is steep.

If you’ve enjoyed my articles, interviews with literary agents and authors, or just think I’m pretty awesome, then please take a second and cast your vote. All you have to do is follow the link below and click the VOTE button.

I think you may need a Goodreads account, but if you don’t have one, then this is a great time to start one. It’s the best site for book recommendations and I’ve met quite a few really cool people on there.

Here is the direct link to my vote page: http://www.goodreads.com/book_blogger_award/entry/141

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate it.

While trying to save her brother four years ago, Greta was thrown into the witch’s fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon.

To survive, seventeen-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape.

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back…

GRETA & THE GOBLIN KING Links:

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Additional links to Chloe’s pages:

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About Author:

Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she’d at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers.

So, apparently, there’s a game going around among writers right now. It’s called the Lucky 7 Game, and it’s sort of like a tag. I usually don’t do these, but it’s fun, and an excuse to give you guys an excerpt.

If you’re tagged by another author, you have to:

1. Go to page 7 or 77 of your current manuscript.

2. Go down to the seventh line and copy the 7 sentences that follow that.

3. Then, after pasting those, tag 7 other authors.

I was tagged by the Chloe Jacobs (author of the upcoming YA Retelling, Greta and the Goblin King)

Anyway, this is from my current YA paranormal romance project, Glimmer.

“The fact you’re alive is a pretty good indication I’m not trying to kill you.”

He pulled up the bottom of his shirt and wiped the black blood off his cheek. The curve of his hip was exposed and I forced myself to look away. I needed to focus, not drool over some guy who was obviously dangerous.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Rowan.”

“Are you part of the air court?”

And there you have it! Just a little taste of what I’m working on at the moment.

Now it’s time for TAG! So I choose . . .

1. Courtney Koschel

2. Melissa West

3. Rachel Harris

4. Tara Fuller

5. Allison Pang

6. Gretchen McNeil

7. Kelley York

(continue reading…)

Originally Posted on Deadline:

Putting to rest weeks of rampant speculation about director and cast, Constantin Film and Unique Features announced today that Harald Zwart will direct actress Lily Collins in the hotly anticipated film adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s #1 best-selling book series “The Mortal Instruments.”

In the series’ first book “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones”, set in contemporary New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager, Clary Fray, discovers she is the descendant of a line of Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of young half-angel warriors locked in an ancient battle to protect our world from demons. After the disappearance of her mother, Clary must join forces with a group of Shadowhunters, who introduce her to a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld, filled with demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves and other deadly creatures.

Lily Collins, star of the upcoming Mirror Mirror, will play the lead role of Clary. Principal photography is expected to begin August 15 in Toronto. Harald Zwart, whose recent film The Karate Kid grossed over $350 million worldwide, will direct from a screenplay by Jessica Postigo and I. Marlene King, with Robert Kulzer producing for Constantin Film and Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne producing for Unique Features. Martin Moszkowicz, Constantin Film’s head of Film & TV, is executive producing.

Fans and the filmmakers agree: “Lily Collins is the perfect Clary,” says producer Robert Kulzer. “Harald Zwart really understands the visuals and heart of The Mortal Instruments. That was crucial to us. Of course, having Cassandra Clare’s support throughout and collaborating with her on this project has been especially rewarding.”

Lily Collins is repped by CAA. Harald Zwart is repped by ICM. Cassandra Clare is repped by The Gotham Group, which also reps Jessica Postigo. Both Postigo and I. Marlene King are repped by Gersh.

Does anyone notice one name missing from this announcement? Does this mean that Jamie Campbell Bower is no longer cast as Jace? I’d love to hear your opinions in my comment section.

September 11, 2012, Entangled Teen

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

BUT that’s not all! Below please find not one but TWO excerpts, each giving you a different taste of what SUPER SWEET is all about. The first occurs when our main girl Cat steps out of the mysterious gypsy tent and discovers that perhaps something’s not quite right in her world…..

I hear their muffled whispers and understand every Italian word. Every witty comment made at my expense.

It’s like my brain is automatically translating.

I bunch the soft fabric of the dress in my hand and then reach up to feel the ribbon in my hair. I lightly skim my fingers over my chin and feel my lack of zit. I take in the costumes of the crowd, the stench of the animals, and the Italian I can now speak and understand. And suddenly it hits me.

Reyna must have pulled some kind of gypsy mojo.

Maybe this is one of those nifty “change your life” magic scenarios like in the movies. I mean, mostly I’m still expecting to blink and be right back in the midst of overpriced, gaudy tourism, but for now, the gypsy-time-warp explanation is infinitely better than thinking I’ve lost my mind. As I decide to go with that option, I feel my frantic tension melt away.

The growing crowd seems to notice my change in demeanor and begins shooting one another amused looks, but I don’t care anymore. A smile stretches across my face. Evidently, I was wrong earlier; Reyna is a psychic mind reader, because if this is her special brand of bibbity-bobbity-boo, then she made my exact daydream from earlier in the courtyard come to life.

The long red gown, the braided hair, the Italian merchant’s daughter, the time period. I am in Renaissance Florence.

I stare dumbly at the ground, the words and reality sinking in.

I’m in Renaissance Florence!

AND the second, the “Meet Cute” with Cat and Renaissance hottie Lorenzo. Here’s a (hopefully) swoony glimpse into their first meeting….

Alessandra jerks back like I just suggested she prance around the square naked or something. “No! I believe I understand your meaning, and Lorenzo is certainly not my suitor. He is like a brother to me—the three of us grew up together.”

She resumes walking and I fall in step beside her, understanding there has to be more to the story. And as we near the end of the row I finally ask, “If you’re not into the guy, then what’s the problem?”

At that same moment, a rich, deep chuckle hits my ears. My stomach involuntarily clenches and my gaze sharpens on the back of this mysterious Lorenzo.

Alessandra sighs. “That is the problem.” She places her hand on my arm and solemnly looks me in the eyes. “You must be careful. Lorenzo is beautiful, and it is not uncommon for a girl to walk away from meeting him with a piece of her heart left behind. But he is just eighteen, and not yet ready for marriage.”

I roll my eyes and laugh, then realize she’s serious. “Yeah, I assure you, there’s no danger on my end. I’m not exactly looking for marriage myself.” Because that would be crazy-town.

Alessandra wrinkles her nose as if she doesn’t believe me, but she removes her hand. We close the distance and Cipriano flashes me an open, honest to goodness, lighthearted smile.

“Lorenzo, this is the cousin I was telling you about.”

Slowly the guy turns and I fall head first into the richest chocolate-brown eyes I’ve ever seen. He blinks and long, luscious lashes feather across his bronzed cheeks. I can feel myself gawking, but I physically can’t drag my eyes away. Lorenzo doesn’t smirk or act all conceited, either. He simply stares back, his eyes casually skimming over me, causing my skin to warm and break out in a whole body tingle.

Time seems to stop, and the sounds of the market mute. Alessandra was right. This boy is beautiful.

And he’s looking at me.

If you like what you’ve read you may want to head over to Barnes and Noble…For a limited time you can pre-order MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY for ONLY $5.70!! Eventually it will go up to full price of $9.99, so if you plan on buying it, I’d take advantage of the sale price. And of course, it’s also available at Amazon.

Add MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY to your to-read Goodreads shelf.

“My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.”

Paperback Available for Pre-Order from Amazon

Add to your Goodreads